The Librarian of Burned Books: A Novel

Diedrich comments that Althea has become withdrawn. Althea has begun to understand that Diedrich is at his most concerned and romantic when her doubts begin to surface. The party is celebrating because of Hitler’s continued success in politics, led in part by the fire at the Reichstag, which most believe was begun by communist enemies. Althea privately wonders if the Nazis started the fire themselves.

Althea becomes overwhelmed and excuses herself, leaving the group and going to see Deveraux. Deveraux immediately understands what Althea is going through and presents her to Hannah and Otto as having a “come-to-Jesus moment” (184). Hannah and Otto remain suspicious of Althea’s intentions, and Hannah dismisses Althea’s self-loathing as pretentious and self-absorbed. She encourages Althea to wait out the remaining months of her residency and then bring the truth back to America.

Viv goes to the library in hopes of finding background information on Althea. She digs up reviews of both novels, both of which were critically celebrated. She discovers that Althea was a guest of Joseph Goebbels and fears that Althea was a Nazi supporter. There is little personal information about Althea, and no photographs; Viv is able to find only two quotes from before and after her trip to Germany.

Leaving the library, Viv considers the power books have to unite people across the world. Later, Viv reaches out to several reporters inviting them to her event. With that finished, she tries to find contact information for Althea through her friend Harrison.

Hannah receives news that her family has left France and moved to England. She considers how Otto is her only true family, and they go to the anti-Nazi exhibit together. Though Hannah encourages patrons to question Hitler’s antisemitism, she fears their minds are already made up.

On their way home, two Nazis follow Hannah and Otto and call out sexual comments to Hannah. Otto turns and punches one of them, and the men get into a fight. Hannah hesitates before moving to protect him and is badly beaten.

Viv goes to Hale’s office and invites him for a walk. She finds herself overcome with grief over Edward, and is grateful Hale is able to sympathize. They discover a neighborhood baseball game and Hale asks if they can join. Viv takes the bat and weathers the taunts and encouragement of the children. She misses the first two pitches intentionally, for effect, and hits the third pitch across the park. She makes a home run, to the joy and cheers of the amassed onlookers. After the game, Viv talks with a neighboring woman and feels hope for the future.

Hannah watches over Otto in the hospital; she has started carrying his gun with her in secret. She thinks about the onlookers who did nothing to stop the assault, and about her carefree days before the war. After several days, Otto wakes up and she brings him home to care for him. She feels her faith in her library and its ability to effect change slipping away.

Hannah invites Althea for a bike ride. They explore a residential area and stop at a park, where Hannah shares her love for her home city. She makes a list of things she would like to do with a free day, including riding a bike, reading a book, drinking wine, and being kissed. Althea reads her a passage from Alice and Wonderland, and then they go to a cafe and drink wine.

Althea talks about her past, and how she began writing stories as a coping mechanism. She begins telling Hannah a made-up story about a brave girl named Hannah who is sent to fight a dragon, but ultimately forms an alliance with him.

Viv implores Mr. Stern to move Althea’s second novel to the upcoming shipment of ASEs. She hopes that if Althea receives a wave of letters from grateful soldiers, she’ll be encouraged to appear at Viv’s event. Mr. Stern confesses that the novel has already been moved up because of a planned invasion in the near future. He also tells her that concerns have been coming in over some of the more contentious novels, such as Strange Fruit. In response, the council board is publishing a resolution against Taft’s amendment. Despite this, Mr. Stern supports Viv moving forward with her event.

Althea begins attending Adam’s resistance meetings, but Hannah expresses her concern over his increasing recklessness. Hannah and Althea grow closer, and Althea worries her second novel will be a disappointment. Her experiences in Berlin and the fear within it are inspiring her current work in progress. Musing on her future, Hannah says she would like to open a bookshop. Althea knows she is growing more attracted to Hannah but finds herself unable to act on it.

Viv wakes to news of the Allied invasion in France, which signals the end of the war. When she and Charlotte venture outside, she sees the same hope and relief spread across the city. They attend church and then continue on to Times Square. On the way, she passes a synagogue, which makes her think of the burned books librarian. They join a gathering in Madison Square Garden where several speakers and musicians voice their support of the army. Together, Viv and Charlotte silently mourn Edward, who died only seven months earlier.

Hannah receives one last letter from Althea, but puts it away unopened. She thinks about their brief, passionate relationship and her fear that Althea’s influence might lead the Nazis to her. In the time since Althea’s departure, Hannah has received several letters, but set them all aside.

Viv sees an outpouring of emotions in her city following the invasion. Many soldiers are lost in the ensuing battles. Viv throws herself into her work with the ASEs.

On her way home one night, Viv is accosted by a stranger who introduces himself as Howard Danes; he entreats Viv to give up her fight against Taft. In return, Taft is willing to honor Edward for his bravery. Viv declines, telling Danes that his appearance is proof of her progress in her mission. She calls a policeman to her aid and leaves Danes behind.

Deveraux arrives with a gift for Althea: a new dress to wear to a new nightclub. Before they leave, Deveraux tells Althea about a public book burning being planned for the following night by a group of university students.

At the club, Deveraux and Althea meet Hannah and Otto, and Althea and Hannah dance intimately together. However, Althea becomes overwhelmed and flees. Deveraux takes her home. The next day when Althea sees them, Hannah acts as if nothing happened. They go to see the book burning together, and Althea is horrified by the destruction of thousands of books. Joseph Goebbels speaks to the crowd, stirring them into devotion. Althea breaks down and accosts Diedrich, who slaps her.